Process of producing primary amines



' unds i. aldeh des and ketones or their Po e y f ture of 40 per cent of ammonia and r Patented June 10,; 1930 UNITED STATES rArEN'r- OFFICE WALTER BEPPE, OF LUDWIGEEAFEN-ON-THE-BHUE,

GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO I. G.

FABBENINDUSTBIE AITIENGEGELLSCHAIT, OI FBANKI'ORT-ON-THE-HAIN, GER- ;EANY, A CORPORATION 01' GM PROCESS OF PRODUCING PRIMARY AMINES Ho Drawing. Application illed'rebruary 11 1997, Serial In. 161,582, and in I have found that the primary amines derived from aliphatic and cyclic bodies, hitherto obtainable only difliculty, may readily be obtained and with excellent yields, by causing hydrogen toZact on'the corresponding vaporized carbonyl com-- ammonia compounds in the presence 0 catalysts and gaseous ammoma preferably in excess over the required amount. Any of the catalysts ordinarily em loyed for hydrogenations may be used an especially catalysts which contain activating admixtures. It is often advisable to a d to the hydrogenatin catalyst a substance, such as aluminium p osphate, aluminium oxid or the like, which is furthering splitting water. Inert gases including restricted amounts of water vapor may also be present.

The followingexamples will further illustrate how the said invention may be carried into practical efl'e'ct, but the invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 Cyclohexanone is vaporized in a mixture of per cent of hydrogen and 30 per cent of gaseous ammonia and the mixture is passed,

' by depositing 100 grammes of basic nickel carbonate and 60 grammes of water glass on 1 litre of granulated pumice, followed by reduction in a current of hydrogen at a temperature of 300 to 320 C. In addition to insignificant amounts of secondary and tertiary amines, the condensate obtained on cooling the reaction gases contains an approximately quantitative yield of cyclohexylamine. The greater portion of the resulting cyclohexylamine can be recovered in a pure state (its boiling point being 134 to 135 C.) by distilling the condensate. further portion passes over with the water of the reaction, in the first runnings, and can also be recovered, in a pure state, by drying Germany February 9, 1m.

and subsequent distillation. The mixture of ammoma and hydrogen issuing from the condenser is preferably led back in circulat on into the vaporizer.

Ewample 2 n-butyl aldehyde is vaporized with a mixcent of hydrogen, and passed over the nic el contact material at a temperature of from 110.to 120 C. as described in Example 1.

Ewamplc 3 Isobutylaldehyde ammonia is vaporized with a mixture of 30 per cent of ammonia and 70 per cent of hydrogen and treated as described in Example 2. An excellent yield of isobutylamine can be recovered from thereaction product together with small quantities of the higher substituted amines.

The conditions of the reaction may be varied within wide limits. For example, the temperature may be higher or lower. being in general, between 100 and 200 C. The

eflicien'cy and durability of the catalyst may 7 be improved by the addition of activators,

, such as zinc OXld, magnesium oxid and the like.

Example .4

lsobutylaldehyde is vaporized in a mixture of 50 per cent of hydrogen and 50 per cent of gaseous ammonia at a temperature of about 150 C. and the mixture is passed over a nickel catalyzer at a temperature of 130 CL, the concentration of the isobutylaldehyde vapor in the current of gas being about 4 per cent. The nickel catalyst is prepared by depositing 100 grammes of basic nickel carbonate, 6O grammes of chromic oxid and 60 grammes of water glass on 1 litre of granulated pumice, followed by reduction at a temperature of 300 to 320 C. Apart from the water of the reaction A and a little dissolved ammonia, the condensate obtained by cooling the reaction gases consists entirely of an excellent yield of isobutylamine.

I t Propylaldehyde is vaporized in a mixture of 60 per cent of hydrogen and per cent of ammonia at a temperature of about 150 (3., and the mixture is passed over a nickel catalyst at a temperature of about 130 (3., the concentration of the propylaldehyde in the current of gas being about 5 per cent. The nickel contact is prepared by depositing 100 grammes of basic nickelcarbonate, 6O grammes of aluminium phos hate and 60 grammes of water glass on 1 litre of granulated pumice, followed by reduction at a tem erature of from 300 to 320 C. A od yiel of propylamine, together with a ittle dipropylamme, can be isolated from the condensate in any known manner,

In a similar manner isoprop lamlne can be obtained from acetone, isoamy amine from v isovaleraldehyde, isohexylamine from isocapronicaldehyde'and so on.

n the appended claims, I use the term carbonyl compound to designate a carbonyl compound of a hydrocarbon, an amine of which is desired to be produced.

I claim:

1. The process of producing primary amines which comprises passing a vaporized carbonyl compound mixed with hydrogen and gaseous ammonia at an elevated tem perature over a hydrogenation catalyst. 2. The process of producing primary amines which comprises 'passin a mixture of aldehyde vapor, hydrogen and an excess of gaseous ammonia, at an elevated temperature over a hydrogenation catalyst.

3., The process of producing primary amines which comprises vaporizing an ammonia compound of analdehyde, and passing the said vapors, mixed with hydrogen and gaseous ammonia, at an elevated team perature over a hydrogenation catalyst.

a. The process of producing primary amines which comprises passing a vaporized carbonyl compound mixed with hydrogen and an excess of gaseous ammonia at an elevated temperature over a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a deb dration catalyst.

In testimony whereof I. ave hereunto set my hand. WALTER REPPE. 

